Georgia Among Top States in Puppy Scam Money Losses
As the holiday season approaches, some families eagerly search for the perfect Christmas puppy. According to Veternarians.org, the demand for “puppy for sale” experienced a surge in December. However, this scenario often takes a heartbreaking turn, as unsuspecting people become victims of online puppy scams.
Amid the holiday cheer, the excitement of finding a furry friend can lead to disappointment. Many people, despite sending money to supposed sellers, find themselves empty-handed with no puppy or any form of follow-up communication.
The latest data from Veterinarians.org reveals a concerning trend in 2023. Americans have collectively lost over $1 million to puppy scams, as reported to the Better Business Bureau (BBB). The period from January 1, 2023, to October 31, 2023, witnessed over a thousand reported cases, prompting Veterinarians.org’s Special Reports Team to identify states with the highest monetary losses from puppy scams.
States with the most puppy scams.
Defining a puppy scam as an interaction with fraudulent websites or social media listings, the team discovered that California topped the list with nearly $90,000 lost to puppy scams. Victims in this state faced an average loss of $1,206. Other states in the Top 5 include Texas, Florida, New York, and Pennsylvania, where losses ranged from $750 to over $900 per scam.
Where Georgia ranks with puppy scam financial losses.
According to the study, Georgia ranks in spot number 7 with $28,939 of losses statewide. It was also revealed that the state’s average amount lost per victim is $1,258.
It’s worth noting that the reported numbers may only scratch the surface of the issue. Among the 1,000-plus puppy scam reports filed with the BBB, 21% of victims chose not to disclose their state of residence, contributing to over a quarter of a million dollars in losses ($233,718).
Common issues appear in reports to the Better Business Bureau for online puppy purchases. Sellers often prevent in-person visits or fail to provide sufficient images or videos of the puppy. They ask for upfront payment through various methods, including Western Union, MoneyGram, Zelle, Cash App, or gift cards. Also, additional payments may be requested for items like shipping crates, vaccinations, or insurance.
Warning signs also include breeders’ websites lacking information about the puppy’s parents, an inability to provide health records or AKC Certification, and unusually low prices for purebred puppies.
While online platforms like Facebook Marketplace are popular for finding puppies, they are often linked to reported issues. Alternatives, such as local animal shelters and rescue groups, offer the chance to meet and assess a potential pet in person, ensuring a safer and more transparent adoption process.
Check out the complete study here.
Holiday Food Dangers: What Not to Feed Your Pets
The ideal way to spend the holidays is in the company of family and friends rather than dealing with a visit to the veterinary hospital. As Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve approach, the experts in toxicology at Pet Poison Helpline are warning pet lovers about the numerous hazards that pets may encounter during this holiday season.
“We receive more potential poisoning calls in November and December than any other time of the year,” said Dr. Renee Schmid, a senior veterinary toxicologist at Pet Poison Helpline, in a press release. “Some of the biggest threats during the holidays are toxins that are prevalent throughout the entire year, like lilies, chocolate, xylitol, and medication, but there are many toxic items that are specific to the holidays, such as eggnog.”
Holiday Pet Dangers
Pet Poison Helpline shared a distressing incident from last Christmas. One involves someone’s two cats, who fell seriously ill after nibbling on a lily from a holiday bouquet.
During the previous winter in Indianapolis, a puppy was poisoned by ingesting half a cup of ice melt. The main concern for the medical team was the sodium chloride. Apparently, this can cause severe gastrointestinal upset and central nervous system signs, according to the Pet Poison Helpline.
Chocolate is a holiday danger for pets.
Another significant holiday danger is chocolate, with the added threat of xylitol. THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is another dangerous toxin that can be combined with chocolate. With the increasing legalization of marijuana in many states, the Pet Poison Helpline has observed a rise in cannabis-related calls. While THC’s toxicity level is considered mild for dogs and cats, it can still have significant effects, they said.
Medications are a major year-round toxic threat. They become even more hazardous during the holidays when visitors may bring unknown medications into your home. “Of all the calls we receive at Pet Poison Helpline, animals ingesting human medications is one of our most common,” noted Dr. Schmid.
Pet Poison Helpline recounted an incident a few days before last New Year’s Eve. It involved an Alaskan Malamute puppy who ingested a Percocet, a pain reliever containing a combination of acetaminophen and oxycodone. A visiting relative dropped the pill on the floor, and although it was unfortunately found by the dog. Happily, she was treated promptly and made a full recovery. However, the outcome could have been much worse. If you have holiday guests, they suggest reminding them to keep their medications out of reach of family pets and children.
Holidays create more opportunities for pets to come in contact with various toxins. Pet lovers need to be extra vigilant. This is especially true when around new people or environments.
Take a look at foods to avoid feeding pets during the holidays below.
Kayla is the midday host on Detroit’s 105.1 The Bounce. She started her career in radio back in 2016 as an intern at another Detroit station and worked her way here. She's made stops in Knoxville, TN, Omaha, Ne and other places before returning to Detroit. She’s done almost everything in radio from promotions to web, creating content on social media, you name it.
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